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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

SUN AND MOON, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

Jane Kenyon’s poem “Sun and Moon” delves into the experience of hospitalization, capturing the surreal blend of reality and medication-induced stupor. Through detailed imagery and poignant reflections, Kenyon explores themes of illness, isolation, and the gradual return to normalcy.

The poem opens with the speaker in a state of semi-consciousness: “Drugged and drowsy but not asleep / I heard my blind roommate's daughter / helping her with her meal.” This initial scene sets a tone of vulnerability and dependence, highlighting the mundane yet intimate moments of hospital life. The dialogue between the daughter and her blind mother—“‘What's that? Squash?’ / ‘No. It's spinach.’”—adds a touch of everyday normalcy amid the disorienting hospital environment.

Kenyon juxtaposes this domestic scene with the backdrop of a hospital: “Back from a brain-scan, she dozed / to the sound of the Soaps: adultery, / amnesia, shady business deals, / and long, white hospital halls....” The reference to soap operas blaring in the background underscores the artificial and dramatic narratives that contrast sharply with the stark, clinical reality of the hospital. This line, “No separation between life and art,” suggests that the exaggerated stories on TV mirror the convoluted and often surreal experiences within the hospital.

The poem shifts to a moment of quiet sorrow: “I heard two nurses whispering: / Mr. Malcomson had died.” The mention of a patient’s death and the subsequent offer of a private room highlight the constant presence of mortality in the hospital. The speaker’s new room, now chilled by a spring breeze, represents both a physical and emotional transition.

Kenyon then explores a deeply personal vision: “I lay back on the new bed, / and had a vision of souls / stacked up like pelts / under my soul, which was ill— / so heavy with grief / it kept the others from rising.” This haunting image of souls weighed down by grief captures the profound sadness and sense of burden the speaker feels. The comparison to pelts suggests a lifeless, almost animalistic sense of loss and despair.

Despite the speaker’s profound emotional pain, her physical condition appears normal: “No varicolored tubes / serpentined beneath the covers; / I had the vital signs of a healthy, / early-middle-aged woman.” This dichotomy between physical health and emotional suffering underscores the invisibility of mental anguish and the complexity of diagnosing and treating such conditions.

The passage of time in the hospital is marked by the cyclical nature of the sun and moon: “A week of stupor. Sun and moon / rose and set over the small enclosed / court, the trees....” This monotonous passage of time accentuates the speaker’s detachment from the outside world and the slow, almost imperceptible process of healing. The doctor’s face appearing and disappearing “over the foot of the bed” signifies the routine check-ups and the gradual reduction of the speaker’s overwhelming sadness.

Finally, the speaker’s return home signifies a tentative recovery: “Restored to my living room / I looked at the tables, chairs, and pictures / with something like delight, / only pale, faint—as from a great height.” The familiar surroundings, once taken for granted, now evoke a muted sense of joy and appreciation. The lingering effects of her experience are evident as she allows the phone to ring and the mail to pile up, indicating a continued need for rest and adjustment.

In “Sun and Moon,” Jane Kenyon masterfully portrays the intricacies of a hospital stay and the emotional journey from despair to a tentative return to normal life. Through her vivid descriptions and reflective narrative, she captures the fragility of human existence and the delicate process of healing, both physically and emotionally. The poem invites readers to contemplate the profound impact of illness and the slow, often painful journey towards recovery.


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